Switch indicator



Jan. 19 1926. 1,570,315 I H. B. NEWHALL SWITCH INDICATOR- Filed Jan. 9. 19'25 Patented Jan. 19, 1926.

UNITED STATES HENRY B. NEWHALL, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

. SWITCH. INDICATOR.

Application filed January 9, 1925.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY B. I'IswrL-iLL, a citizen of the United'States, residing at Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Switch Indicators, of which the following is a specification, taken in'connection with the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to indicators for electric switches so. that the user can tell at a glance, and at a considerable distance from the switch, whether or not it is in its on or off position.

My invention more particularly relates to I such an indicator for a push button switch, the different positions of the indicator showing the condition of the switch at a glance, and at a considerable distance.

My invention further relates to such an indicator which can be made out of any suitable material and detachably connected to any push button switch now in use, the indicator being sold as a new article of manufacture. It is also, of course, to be understood that new push button switches may be made and sold equipped with my invention. In such new switches the indicator may or may not be detachable.

My invention further relates to certain articles of manufacture, combinations, and sub-combinations, and details of construction, as will be more fully hereinafter described in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawings show an illustrative embodiment of one form of my invention to which I am of course not to be limited. In these drawings the same reference numerals refer to similar parts in'the several figures.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of wireless receiving apparatus, shown in dotted lines, with which my invention is particularly adapted to be used;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one form of my indicator;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the push button switch, illustrating the position of the indicator when the switch is in itsoff position;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the push button switch and indicator shown in Fig. 4.

Serial No. 1,453.

My indicator is adapted to be used with any suitable form of electric switch, but more particularly in connection with what is generally termed a push button. switch such as 1.

Many types of wireless receiving apparatus 2 use push button switches. These push button switches l are proxiued with the ordinary shaft 3, engaging member or shoulder l, and head 5 to be engaged by tho fingers of the operator to push in or pull out the shaft 3, to break or make the current in the switch 1.

In a wireless receiving set employing a push button switch it is impossible, at a short distance from the set, to tell whether or not the push button in its operative or inoperative position. This is particu larly true if no signals are coming through the set. Under such conditions for the operator to determine the condition of the switch he has to go over to the receiving set 2.

By my invention I attach an indicator to L flat material, such for example as sheet metal which may be nickled, or otherwise embellished, and on one surface of the inclicator, I preferably place the word On. The rear 7 of the indicator is bent on the line 8 substantially at right angles to the portion 9 of the indicator, and is provided with enlarged bearing hole 10. The end 7 is split or cut at 11 to form two bendable arms 12 and 13. One of these arms for example 13, may be bent with relation to the other arm 12, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, so that the indicator 6 may be threaded over the shaft 3 of the push button switch 1, when the arm 13 should be bent back into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2.

The attaching of the indicator 6 to the shaft 3 would be when the shaft 3 is pulled out and the switch is in its operative position, as shown in Fig. 3. In this osition the indicator would pivot on the sha 3, the

portion 9 being heavier than the end 7. This will cause the portion 9 to drop down at an angle to the shaft 8, as indicated in Fig. 3, so that not only would the entire fiat portion of the indicator be visible, l. 3 and F l, but also the word ()n would be visi le if this word is used. t is of course to be understood that different colors on the surface S) of the indicator may be used to increase its visibility without any word being employed, the mere position of the indicator being relied upon to indicate the condition of the switch. It will be clear that with such an indicator the condition of the push button switch 1 will be visible across a large room or hall without the necessity of walking over and examining the switch.

When the switch is thrown from the po sition shown in Fig. 3 the engaging member or shoulder 4r will cooperate with the arms 12 and 1S and cause the indicator to pivot on the shaft 3, the portion 9 being uing up until it is parallel with the shaft as indicated in Fig. l. When the indicator is in the position of Fig. l, its visibility will be materially reduced. Assuming that the electric switch 1 is mounted substantially at the elevation of the eyes of the user, when the switch 1 is in the off position and the indicator 6 in the position shown in Fig. 4:, the operator would see only the edge let of the indicator instead of the entire surface 9. He would therefore know at a glance that the switch was off without the necessity of going over and examining it. But regardless of elevation the angle of the indicator to the shaft 3 will indicate the condition of the switch.

My indicator may be formed of any suitable material such as aluminum, brass, celluloid or similar material and may be struck up out of sheetmetal at minimum expense.

Having thus described this invention in connection with an illustrative embodiment thereof, to the details of which I do not desire to be limited, what is claimed as new and what is desired to secure by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. A new article of manufacture comprising a switch indicator formed of flat material having a portion bent up at an angle to loose y engage with the shaft of a push button switch and be actuated thereby.

new article of manufacture comprising an indicating tag adapted to be suspended from the actuating shaft of a push button switch and be actuated thereby to assume different angles with relation to the shaft of said switch.

new articleof manufacture comprising an indicating tag adapted to be suspended loosely from the actuating shaft of a push button switch and be actuated thereby to assume different angles with re lation to the shaft of said switch.

A new article of manufacture comprising an indicatirq tag adapted to be detachably suspended from the actuating shaft of a push button switch and be actuated there by to assume different angles with relation to the shaft of said switch. I

5. A new ar 'le of manufacture compris ing an indica i formed from flat sheet material havn one end bent at an angle and provides \rliiii a hole and. a slot to permit portions of the flat material to be bent at an angle to permit the insertion and retention of the actuating shaft of a push button switch in the hole.

6. The combination of a push button switch having a longitudinally movable actuating shaft, and an indicating tag suspended from the actuating shaft and adapted to be actuated thereby to assume different angles with relation to the shaft to indicate the condition of the push button switch.

7. The combination of a push button switch having a longitudinally movable actuating shaft, and an indicating loosely suspended from the actuating shaft and rlapted to be actuated thereby to assume different angles with relation to the shaft to indicate the condition of the push button switch.

8. The combination of a push button switch having a longitudinally movable actuating shaft, and an indicating tag detachably connected to and suspended from the actuating shaft and adapted to be actuated thereby to assume different angles with relation to the shaft to indicate the condition of the push button switch.

HENRY B. NEWHALL. 

